Complaint ends in court fine

A WOMAN had reached her limits with a neighbourly dispute lasting more than eight years when she got “extremely intoxicated”, cranked the music and eventually obstructed police.

Catherine Maree Comin pleaded guilty to one count each of contravene direction or requirement of police, and obstruct police officer.

Police had responded to a noise complaint at a Ruthven St unit complex about 7.20pm on June 19, prosecutor Katherine Steele told the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Officers heard loud music and, when they spoke to the occupant, were told Comin was responsible for the noise.

Ms Steele said police attempted to explain the situation to Comin who became “hostile and belligerent”.

Comin was arrested when she refused to give her full and correct name to police, she said.

Comin resisted the officer and continued trying to pull away from police, and refused to get into the police vehicle, Ms Steele said.

“She was constantly fighting with police,” she said.

Solicitor Chelsea Saldumbide, for Comin, said her client had lived at the unit for eight and a half years, and instructed she’d had ongoing issues with her neighbours.

Those circumstances got the better of her that night, Ms Saldumbide said, and she got “extremely intoxicated” and turned the music up.

She said her client had no recollection of the night, and was extremely embarrassed for her actions.

Magistrate Kay Ryan noted Comin’s “very short” criminal history, and accepted the early plea of guilty.

She was fined $400 and had no conviction recorded.